“The UP Initiative,” is a new collaborative effort between Members of Congress and community partners to reduce gun violence and increase economic opportunity.Fist Fight 2017 live streaming movie

The UP Initiative — short for “Urban Progress” — builds on the recommendation of the 2014 Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America, and brings together a broad, diverse coalition from Congress and civic leaders at every level of government to develop a comprehensive strategy of urban reinvestment in Chicago and across the country.

The Initiative seeks to increase access to employment, quality education and training, and improved community-police relations, with the goal of creating safe, stable, self-sustaining communities.

I told the gathering that “Today’s union of groups is a critical first step in proactively engaging families, our business sector, law enforcement, and this Congress. Meaningful change can only occur through cooperative effort. It’s going to take all of us — our churches, public officials, community activists, police and academic institutions—to lift our communities UP from poverty and violence. Collectively, and through committed coordination, we can create a solid framework for building safe and thriving communities.”